asked the Minister for Social Welfare if two old age pensioners (details supplied) in County Wexford will be awarded a non-contributory old age pension.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
571.
The old age pension claims of the couple concerned have been partially investigated. When inquiries have been completed the claims will be referred to the local pension committee for decision.
572.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will be paid arrears of disability benefit which are due to her for the period 27 July 1981 to July 1982.
Payment of disability benefit to the person concerned was disallowed for the period 27 July 1981 to 13 July 1982 following examinations by medical referees who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. The claimant appeals against the decision to disallow benefit and an oral hearing of the appeal was heard at which she was present. The appeals officer, however, upheld the decision to disallow benefit. The decision of the appeals officer is final in the absence of new facts or evidence.
573.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Laois, will be paid arrears of disability and pay-related benefits for the periods 28 October to 17 November 1982 and 1 February to 21 February 1983.
The person concerned was paid all arrears of disability benefit and pay-related benefit due to her on 7 March 1983.
574.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will pay unemployment assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
The person concerned is a married woman who is a dependent of her husband and cannot, therefore, qualify for unemployment assistance.
Her claim to unemployment benefit was refused on the grounds that she did not satisfy the condition of being available for employment. She appealed against the decision and following an oral hearing, at which she gave evidence on her own behalf, the appeals officer confirmed the decision given in her case.
She has ceased to sign as unemployed since 1 December 1982.
575.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when social welfare benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
It is a condition for the receipt of unemployment benefit that a person must have had at least 26 weeks of insurable employment. According to the Department's records the person concerned did not satisfy this condition and consequently her claim was disallowed.
She has not yet attained the age of 18 years and she is, accordingly, not eligible to claim unemployment assistance.
576.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that social welfare benefit is paid forthwith to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, who is an invalid and who has been hospitalised for two years with no income whatever, and on whose behalf many representations have been made without any acknowledgment.
Arrears of disability benefit due to the person concerned were issued on 4 March 1983.
577.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a free electricity allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The application for a free electricity allowance from the person concerned has been approved and the ESB has been instructed to apply the allowance to his account from the February-March 1983 billing period onwards.